28 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



from his isolated position he was unable to get, having- neither 

 dog- nor punt. He told me he did not care to repeat his ex- 

 perience of lodging in a boat anchorea in the centre of the 

 stream. He was afraid he might get run down, especially as 

 he had no lamps. However, as there is very little traffic, the 

 danger was not so great. 



Not long after I purchased a itft. punt, and disposed of the 

 canoe. Towards the end of September a' couple of acquaintances 

 roused me out of bed about midnight, and then came again at 

 four in the morning, and we set out in the boat. One of my com- 

 panions had a couple of shots soon after we started, but was very 

 unlucky, and we both fired several times at curlews and lap- 

 wings, but without success. I only managed to shoot four small 

 birds. We sailed till we grounded opposite Lytham. As it was 

 very warm, we all three took off our nether garments and 

 dragged the boat back a long way. We had just crossed a small 

 quicksand, when a team of ducks, passing over, I snatched up a 

 single seven-bore muzzle-loader, and dropped one, but whilst 

 pulling across for it, it managed to scuttle away, and as the 

 tide began to make I did not follow it. We resumed our gar- 

 ments, my companions partook of some refreshment, and then 

 we sailed home with a leading wind, having greatly enjoyed our- 

 selves. 



Having arranged to take my friend, George Buckley, of Old- 

 ham, down the river for a little shooting, he accordingly made 

 his appearance on a certain day early in October, and we set out, 

 accompanied by my son and three other persons who wished to 

 have a short sail. It was about half-past four in the afternoon 

 when I hoisted the sails, and we commenced to beat down the 

 river. Our first contretemps was running the boat's nose into 

 the river bank, caused by one of our friends letting go the jib 

 sheet when the boat was coming about. After a deal of pushing 

 with the oars, we got off again. Then, another passenger volun- 

 teered a song, much to B.'s disgust, who whispered sundry dis- 

 paraging remarks to me. However, in the course of an hour 

 or so, we dropped our freight to walk home, and by the time we 

 got to the embankment it was growing dusk. As the night closed 

 in we could hear a good many birds calling, and our hopes rose 

 accordingly. But nothing came in our direction. 



However, presently we saw a large congregation of lapwings on 

 the left bank of the river. Cautiously we lowered the sails ; I 

 took an oar, and gently pushed the boat down stream, keeping 

 close to the wall until we were, as near as we could judge, opposite 

 the birds. Then we stopped, and at a whispered word both jumped 

 up and fired at the flock. Unfortunately, whilst we were dropping 

 -down to the place, the birds had moved further inland, so that 

 when we fired they were about 80 yards from us, and all we got 



